About the Center
The Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center explores the relationships between human beings, energy systems, and environmental stewardship. Located on the West End of Long Island’s iconic Jones Beach State Park, the Center offers permanent and rotating exhibits, public programs, and educational resources to help visitors understand and appreciate the coastal environment.
The power of nature, the nature of energy
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Waves crash, the sun warms the sand, and wind blows in from the sea. Energy cycles through the ecosystem: in the dunes, plants use photosynthesis to soak up the sun’s energy, which animals depend on for food and shelter throughout the year.
Jones Beach also shows how energy can be a tool that humans use to shape the landscape. The park is a result of 100 years of human engineering and maintenance. Now, climate change —driven by human energy use—is reshaping this barrier island, and coastal landscapes across the globe, through extreme weather, sea level rise, and other forces.
The Center brings energy, nature, and society under the same roof. By exploring how energy is transferred in nature and transformed into power for human use, and how energy consumption shapes the natural environment, visitors are empowered to make a difference in the most critical issues facing the world today.
Learn more about the permanent exhibition.
A living model of sustainability
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More than simply a container for programs and installations, the Center’s net-zero building design and surrounding landscape demonstrate how principles of energy conservation, environmental stewardship, sustainability, and adaptation can be put into practice in the built environment.
Explore our online resources, join us for a building tour, or access an audio tour to learn more about sustainability at the Center.
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US Green Building Council, Long Island: Designation as Project of the Year
American Institute of Architects New York Design Awards - Honor Award
American Institute of Architects New York State Excelsior Awards - Honor Award, New Construction
Woodworks U.S. Wood Design Awards - Wood in Government Buildings Award
Architizer A+Awards Winner in the Architecture +Environment category
The Architect’s Newspaper (AN) Best of Design Awards - Honorable Mention, Cultural Category
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN, Gold Medal, Art Integration in interior design
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN, Gold Medal, Museum & Gallery
2020 M/WBE Managed Project of the Year, Construction Management Association of America Metro New York/New Jersey Chapter
Renewable energy & New York State
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In 2015, the New York State Energy Plan set out a road map for the renewable transformation of New York’s energy infrastructure. The passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019 established specific goals for replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewable sources and reaching net-zero emissions in New York State. Now, the State is pursuing these goals through capital investments, systemic changes, and collaborations between policymakers, energy producers, and the public. There are more than 120 solar, land-based wind, and offshore wind projects in the pipeline, which when completed could power more than two-thirds of the state’s electricity with renewable energy sources.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority supports this transformational effort by providing the public with information and analysis about renewable energy sources, as well as managing competitive solicitations for renewable energy development. This includes offshore wind projects like the Empire Wind Project, just south of Jones Beach.
Learn more about the Empire Wind Project.
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The Center is made possible through a partnership between the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and a consortium of public and private partners.
As a primary sponsor of the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, LIPA provides operational support for the Center alongside New York State Parks. The Center is also made possible by the support of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), the Long Island Community Foundation, the Open Space Institute, SUEZ North America, and individual donations.
